3 VHS Auto Tech Students Headed to National Competition
The three students are Nathan Sirawatka, Isidro Rodriguez and Jonathan Cruz. Sirawatka and Rodriguez graduated on Monday. Cruz is a sophomore.
The trio qualified for the national competition by winning gold medals in the Tech Prep portion of the New Jersey Skills USA competition, said Bramante. The students disassembled a donated engine from KIA and created a display that showed the internal function of the machine using belts, chains, light emitting diodes to simulate ignition and compressed air to show the exhaust cycle.
“It’s a fully functioning exploded version of the engine that simulates the actual processes that occur inside an internal combustion engine,” said Bramante. “Of course, it only runs at 11 revolutions per minute. Car engines run at thousands of revolutions per minute.”
Sirawatka did most of the welding and fabricating on the project, said Bramante. He will attend Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Exton, PA, for advanced automotive training in the fall and then go on to dealership employment. Rodriguez did fabrication and painting and electrical work on the project. He is off to the University of Northwestern Ohio in pursuit of an associate’s degree in auto technology. Cruz, the only underclassman, worked on parts prep, fabrication and building the display.
The display was packed this week and shipped to Kansas City for the competition.
When they arrive, the VHS crew will have to re-assemble the display and have it ready for the competition, which begins on Wednesday. There will be a public display of the projects, and those in attendance will be able to question students about their display. On Thursday, the projects will be judged by a panel of national judges, with help from judges representing each state. Students will have to explain how their display connects education with industry. There will also be classes and training sessions for the students and their advisors. Bronze, silver and gold medals will be awarded to the top displays. Gold medal winners will receive scholarship money.
In all, more than 3,000 high school students and 1,000 from colleges across the nation will compete in Skills USA.
Of course, the week won’t be all work, said Bramante. The students will visit an amusement park and also attend a baseball game. They will pack up and come home on June 30.
The trip was made possible through more than $5,500 in donations from local industry, said Bramante. “KIA of North America has been a large supporter, covering air fare, providing some nice clothes to wear and backpacks,” said Bramante. “RK Chevrolet and Auto Group helped with air fare and food costs. We are also very grateful to teachers and staff at the school who donated to the cause. Without everyone’s help and support, this could not have happened.”
Bramante said the last $550, which covered the cost of shipping the display to Kansas City, was donated by Anthony Fanucci, a local businessman who is also a Vineland Board of Education member.
“I am very excited about the competition,” said Sirawatka. “It will help me a lot if we win scholarships.”
Rodriguez said it was a big thrill to win at the state level, “but this is not just New Jersey – it’s all 50 states. I’m sure we will have an enjoyable time, regardless of how we place in the competition.”
“I am really excited,” said Cruz. “I have never won anything in a competition like this. I am really looking forward to going out of state to compete. If we win scholarships, that would be great.”
“These students are already winners,” said Bramante. “They have given 100 percent during their time in this program. Hopefully, they have gained things from their work here.”
Preparations for the Skills USA competition were featured on VPS News earlier
this week and a follow-up story with video of the competition will be presented
in early July.